ReadyNation Illinois

Our new, statewide poll of employers & managers reveals overwhelming backing for #earlychildhood investments as a priority for Illinois' workforce and economy. For highlights of this survey, conducted by the Zogby Analytics polling firm, visit tinyurl.com/ykv49kd5. #twill

Our work to improve #earlychildhood investments is strengthened by the participation of execs from about 90 local IL chambers of commerce, including Shauna Small-Craib from Lansing and Amanda Wike from Dixon. We enjoyed catching-up at the @IACCE conference in Carterville! #twill

Our business-leader members come from all corners of IL, as demonstrated by Claudia Thornton (@GEchamber) & Maribeth Bendick (@BvilleILChamber)! We were grateful to spend time w/them & scores of other members at the @IACCE conference in Carterville this week. #twill

At the @IACCE conference in Carterville: It was great to visit with longtime ReadyNation member Matt Duffy of the @DeKalbILChamber & to welcome Amy Boston to our efforts at boosting kids' well-being. Boston is CEO of @threology95236 in St. Charles. #twill #IACCE2025

#HeadStart services are endangered by the federal shutdown, affecting tens of thousands of young children nationwide. ReadyNation joins 100+ other organizations asking Congress to protect vulnerable families from the loss of these vital supports. #twill tinyurl.com/mr395zjb

The 250+ employers & managers who are members of ReadyNation IL know: #Earlychildhood education is one of the best investments we can make in seeding critical literacy, math, & social-emotional skills in the students & workforce of tomorrow. #twill tinyurl.com/3rp5n7ee

ReadyNation research, cited in this @NCSLorg piece, hung a $122B price tag on the annual economic drain posed by the country's #childcare crisis — more reasons why our business leaders call for greater public investments in #earlychildhood priorities. tinyurl.com/2znbdd6x

A lack of accessible, affordable #childcare is not helping this trend depressing workforce participation — one reason our business-leader network presses for greater public investments in such priorities for children, working parents, & our economy. #twill tinyurl.com/44jw642m

Employers & managers support #earlylearning as a proven investment in helping young children do well — both in school today & the workforce tomorrow. Read more about the economic significance of #preK & #childcare in our survey of IL business execs: tinyurl.com/ykv49kd5 #twill

College students w/kids drop-out of school at twice the rate of their peers, juggling classes & parenting duties & often jobs. We support efforts to help "student parents" access #childcare, including CCAMPIS, & we ask Congress to protect it. #twill tinyurl.com/4k7wc6t3

Trauma can hurt children’s development well into adulthood, a longtime concern of our business-leader network. A new report & index track a number of adversity factors throughout IL, to better inform policy responses & solutions. #twill isbe.net/Pages/children….

Our membership of IL business leaders similarly values these #afterschool programs for helping young people develop skills for success in school, jobs & careers. Let's protect & strengthen 21st Century Community Learning Centers! #twill

We're grateful for our discussion w/the @OrlandChamber re: #childcare & #earlylearning programs as vital business infrastructure. Business-leader voices are crucial to strengthening #earlychildhood supports for working parents & their kids, the workforce of tomorrow! #twill

Home-based care is a critical component of the #childcare puzzle for many families. Our business-leader network backs efforts to support and strengthen these services for the good of children, their working parents, & our entire economy. #twill tinyurl.com/4wfd2acv

2/2: Our efforts to bolster such priorities as #preK and key birth-to-3 programs continue; these were flat-funded in the FY26 plan despite enormous needs & a years-old blueprint for investing more in strengthening these aspects of the IL #earlychildhood system. #twill

1/2: IL's new budget invests further in #childcare help for kids, working parents, & our economy — including grants that boost staff compensation for the "workforce behind our entire workforce." Our business-leader network thanks @GovPritzker & lawmakers. #twill

2/2: A ReadyNation IL member, Wike served as a panelist for a webinar hosted by the @McCormick_Fdn & Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation on crucial, federal supports for #earlychildhood priorities. We thank all for focusing on this important topic! #twill

1/2: "We look at #earlychildhood education as an economic-development necessity in our region," said Amanda Wike of the Dixon Chamber of Commerce. She spoke of business leaders' support for #childcare & early learning programs such as #HeadStart.

Young children w/developmental disabilities deserve our support, but underfunding has nearly doubled the delays in their #EarlyIntervention services. Our network of IL business leaders backs the call for increasing EI resources in the FY26 state budget. tinyurl.com/bddv9n2u

2/2: HR137 urges IL to better prioritize the construction & renovation concerns of preK & child care providers, starting w/full measurement of the birth-to-5 system's infrastructure needs. This measure passed IL House committee unanimously & now faces floor consideration. #twill

1/2: #Childcare insufficiencies erode our workforce, ReadyNation member Mike Murphy told an IL House committee last week. Murphy heads The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce & spoke in favor of HR137, which centers on meeting #earlychildhood facilities needs. #twill